Ricky Ray back for Argos ... sort of

Ricky Ray (right) chatting with current backup Trevor Harris, will serve as the emergency quarterback for the Argos on Friday night against the Ticats. He's been out with a shoulder injury. (Toronto Sun files)

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The pieces slowly are falling into place, the Argos offence rounding into form at precisely the right moment.

It remains to be seen if any complacency will surface, but the more injured bodies begin to return, the better Toronto’s chances are to repeat as Grey Cup champions.

Only a collapse of epic proportions will prevent the Argos from playing host to the East final, only a major injury stopping them from appearing in Regina next month.

Defensively, the group is getting better.

Special teams needs to be ironed out, but so much will depend on how well placekicker Swayze Waters rebounds from his recent funk.

What makes the Argos definitive favourites is the return of quarterback Ricky Ray and Chad Owens’ availability.

Ray will dress Friday night as Toronto’s third-string quarterback, while Owens’ status is a game-time decision.

Running back Chad Kackert returned last week, producing two touchdowns and earning offensive player of the week honours.

The offensive line is about to get a boost with rookie Tyler Holmes poised to make his CFL debut.

The only discouraging news involves rookie wide receiver sensation John Chiles, who will miss Hamilton’s visit as he nurses a sore right hand suffered during last week’s win in Edmonton. Chiles’ injury is not considered serious.

As well as Zach Collaros has played, the offence has the potential to go to another level once Ray gets in sync.

All the elements will soon be in place, perhaps as early as Toronto’s visit to Guelph on Thanksgiving Monday.

Currently constructed, the offence isn’t bad, showing an ability to overcome early game woes by making big plays in the second half.

Until his shoulder injury, Ray was playing at a level that clearly separated himself from his passing peers.

There’s no substitution for experience and any time a team welcomes back a three-time Grey Cup champion, it speaks to the potential that awaits.

Perhaps by as early as this weekend, the Argos will have wrapped up first in the East and a bye.

The team has no homefield advantage, but it’s never a bad thing to play in a climate controlled environment with so many offensive options at Toronto’s disposal.

Ray spent years in Edmonton and if any quarterback is accustomed to dealing with the elements, it’s him, assuming Toronto advances to Regina.

The Argos have never rushed Ray back from any injury, first from a knee injury he suffered last year in Montreal, the latest an injury to his throwing (right) shoulder.

He’s made inroads and the intent on Friday is to reintroduce Ray to his routine.

Barring a setback, he should be back when the two teams meet again in Guelph.

“He needs to improve some before he’s ready to start, but he’s made a lot of improvements this week,’’ said head coach Scott Milanovich, who announced Ray’s insertion on the 42-man roster on Thursday.

“His mechanics are very good,’’ added Milanovich. “He’s still not 100% strength-wise, but he’s at 80-85% in his arm.

“If he needs to play (Friday), he can play. That’s the question I asked him: ‘If you need to play, can you win a game for us?’ He said: ‘Absolutely.’”

The Argos were absolute road warriors in September, winning in Montreal, Regina, Calgary and Edmonton with Collaros earning offensive honours for the month.

The Argos are under no illusions because they know how much work needs to be done before the post-season begins. But this is a team that’s deep and is mentally strong.

There’s a very strong belief that no hole is big enough to overcome and no one will compromise the ultimate goal of winning a title.

“We know what’s going on,’’ added Collaros about Friday night and the possibility of seizing a home playoff berth.

“It’s a big game, but we’ve treated every game like it’s a big game because it’s the next game. That’s the attitude we’ve had all year and we’re going to continue doing that.”

OWENS HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE

By his own recollection, Argos’ had Owens had a similar injury experience when playing down south, when it took him four or five weeks to heal from an injury that affected virtually every movement in the body.

Owens is as tough as they come, mentally and physically, resilient, resourceful and very competitive. But when he failed to bounce back during a home loss to Montreal on Sept. 3, it was a clear sign that something was amiss.

Owens played through the pain and finished the evening, fuelled mainly by adrenalin. But in the locker room, it was a different story, one filled with pain and some fear that he may have broken some ribs.

As it turned out, Owens sprained a cartilage in his ribs, while tearing intercostal muscles, something he first experienced in the NFL.

“Breathing, bending, every movement you make,’’ said Owens. “Everything you do.”

Once the injury was diagnosed, treatment began, a process that tested Owens’ patience.

“It’s just one of those things where the body has to heal,’’ he added. “I was just trying to make sure I was getting better.

“There were times when I was feeling okay and I pushed too hard and had a one- or two-day setback. I had to find that balance in how hard to push.”

Owens, meanwhile, has looked explosive in practice, his status for Friday night’s game listed as a game time decision.

In his absence, the Argos set a CFL record by winning four straight on the road.

“It’s good to know we’ve got that kind of depth,’’ said Owens. “You see the resiliency in these guys and you need that, especially coming down the stretch and into the playoffs.”

TROUBLED WATERS STARTING OVER

Swayze Waters has drawn a line in the sand, in essence starting from scratch.

He’s moving on from a field goal rut that has seen him miss some gimme attempts in moments when he could have sealed wins for his team.

The season would begin against Hamilton, opening night that saw Waters hurt his groin on the second-half kickoff.

His new season, symbolically, begins with Hamilton providing the opposition.

“My teammates and coaches still support me,’’ said Waters. “They have faith in me. I don’t have any lack of confidence.”

As well as Waters has been kicking the pigskin, the fickle football hasn’t gone through the uprights.

His punting, meanwhile, has been off the charts. When he was injured, Waters was making the transition from his backswing to the follow-through when he felt something pop in his groin, the discomfort so painful that he was knocked out.

When he punts the football, Waters does not expose his hips.

He does on field-goal attempts and admittedly Waters had to adjust his fundamentals when rehabbing the injury.

“To what I thought would be a less violent motion on my groin,’’ he explained. “I’ve tweaked that a little bit and I have high hopes for Friday night.”